A New Year’s Approach: Let the Soul Lead
Instead of beginning The New Year with a set of resolutions, I’m trying something different. There will be no attempts at killing it, crushing it or #winning.
Rather, I’m slowing down and getting quiet. I’m visiting my happy place in the woods where I can more easily hear the still, small voice within and listening carefully.
I’m making a choice to let my soul lead my life rather than attempting to direct everything from my ego-mind. This doesn’t mean that I’m abandoning my intellect altogether or moving to a remote cave in the mountains.
Nope, I’ll be sitting in my cozy apartment in Philadelphia, carrying on with my responsibilities as a daughter, sister, auntie, friend and neighbor. I’ll go to work, doing massage and Reiki treatments and helping to support maximum wellness and joy and minimize stress and pain. I will continue to do my laundry, bookkeeping and grocery shopping.
On the outside, it might look like an ordinary life- because it is. I’m just going about my days, doing the tasks that need to be done. The difference is my intention: to be led by a deeper authority than that of my mind or the cultural conditioning that influences it.
Instead of treating the universe like Santa Clause and making a list of all the things I want, I’ll be listening to what the universe desires for and from me. (Not that there’s anything wrong with asking for what we want; I absolutely do that frequently.) My Master Plan for 2024 and beyond, however, is based on a different protocol. One of surrender.
Surrender might have a different meaning to you than the way I’m using it here. I am not referring to the act of giving up and being overtaken by external forces. Of course not! I’m talking about surrendering my goals to the cosmic plan for my life and trusting that my soul sees the bigger picture, therefore making it a better navigator. I’m being guided by the divine plan rather than struggling against it.
As December winds down in these final dark and cold days of 2023, I’ve entered a period of reflection. I’ve carved out periods of time to turn within and explore the vast regions of my psyche. Not only do I ask the questions I’ve listed below, but I also wait for the answers and do my best to take action from the wisdom and inspiration that emerges.
What is it that my soul wishes me to know? To do? To become?
How can I be better aligned with my soul’s plan moving forward?
How am I investing my resources, particularly my time, energy, and focus?
Can I make different choices to invest in ways that are more aligned with my soul’s plan?
How am I wasting my resources and how can I minimize this waste?
How can I get out of my own way and surrender my thoughts, words and actions to divine will?
Intrigued?
Wondering how to get started?
The first step is willingness. If you can look within your heart and sense that you truly desire to go this route, take a deep breath and say it out loud.
I am willing to let my soul lead.
If you have a different word that you prefer instead of “soul”, by all means use the one that resonates most.
It will be helpful to repeat this phrase to yourself throughout your days.
The key here is to be patient. This might be a radical shift for you. Just like most skills in life worth learning, repetition will be beneficial. It might be tempting to give up when you don’t notice any immediate results. That’s normal, and a likely product of living in the age of instant downloads and constant access to all the information.
But soul work is different. It cannot be achieved through the mind. Or an algorithm. I don’t think it can be “achieved” at all.
It can be accessed, however, through the body; I can feel the portal in my heart.
If the body has been armored against feeling or connection with the mystical realm, it could take some time to soften.
Softening is another key. If you approach the heart with a sledgehammer, the pattern of defensiveness will only be reinforced. Approach with curiosity and gentleness.
What I suggest is creating two-minute pockets throughout your day. In the beginning stages, I believe that frequent, shorter practices are more effective than attempting occasional marathon sessions. It’s hard to come up with an argument against giving any beneficial task two short minutes of your attention.
In these practices, the goal is quite simple. To root your willingness into your body. Repeat your mantra: I am willing to let my soul lead. Perhaps place a hand on your heart or wherever you feel would be most helpful. Take a breath deep into your belly. Let it out on a sigh and really turn towards feeling this willingness. When you catch your attention wandering (as attention is wont to do), return to your mantra. Feel it wrapping around you like a magical mist of remembering. Let it permeate your every cell.
The ego-mind might kick in and want to figure things out or complicate this practice. Do your best to remember that the soul cannot be accessed through the mind. Urges to analyze or complicate matters are often last-ditch efforts to distract you from making changes in your life.
Keep at it, making time for yourself and cultivating your willingness. Trust your mantra will work on you from the inside out. If you’d like to join me for further exploration of the soul-led life, click the subscribe button so you receive notifications of future installments, several of which are already percolating.